Ola to engage with SoftBank’s executive-turned advisor Arora

Bengaluru: Leading taxi aggregator Ola would engage with Japanese SoftBank Group’s outgoing Indian executive Nikesh Arora even after he dons the role of its advisor from July 1, said a top official of the app-based online firm on Tuesday.

“I look forward to engaging with him (Arora) in his role as an advisor to SoftBank in the time ahead,” Ola co-founder and chief executive Bhavish Aggarwal said in a statement here.

During Arora’s tenure as the director, president and chief operating officer of SoftBank, the Tokyo-based global technology major has invested in Ola which Aggarwal had set up in Mumbai with Ankit Bhati in late 2010.

“Since SoftBank has played a key role in Ola’s growth story as an investor, we will leverage its vast network and expertise it brings to us as partners, in our mission of building mobility for a billion Indians,” said Aggarwal.

Earlier in the day, SBG announced in Tokyo that Arora would be associated with it in an advisory role from July 1, as decided by its Chief Executive Masayoshi Son.

Besides Ola, SBG also invested in growth-stage Indian start-ups like Snapdeal, Oyo, Grofers and Housing.